The internal Department of Foreign Affairs review of events at its Iveagh House headquarters on June 17th, 2020, largely confirms information that was already in the public domain. That day, department officials gathered in the Dublin office to work the phones during voting in the election for a seat on the United Nations security council. Their presence in the office was essential and appropriate, the review concludes, and public health guidance was adhered to throughout the day.
However, when Ireland’s victory was confirmed, the then secretary general brought some sparkling wine over from his office so they could celebrate together. A breach of the social distance guidance then occurred – a moment documented by the secretary general himself, who took a group photo and tweeted it. The breach lasted about a minute.
Given the tough restrictions that were imposed on the public for long periods over the past two years, there is real and genuine sensitivity to any hint that people in positions of power or influence might themselves not have played their part. What happened at Iveagh House is clearly not comparable to events at the British prime minister’s office, where a culture of drinking and partying suggests total indifference to the suffering of British people. But the breach at Iveagh House should not have happened and it is correct that it should have been inquired into.
Arguably a bigger issue than the initial lapse, however, was the Government response to the ensuing controversy. The internal departmental inquiry was ordered as a result of media pressure on Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, who should have dealt with the problem more promptly and proactively. The department itself initially provided only the most limited responses to questions about the event. People can forgive momentary lapses from people who were working hard in the national interest. But a well-functioning and transparent organisation would have been much quicker to allay public concerns and show itself to be accountable.